Many students tend to perceive their teachers as being limited to one activity, not seeing them as people who live and engage in anything beyond school. Mrs. Marielle Cohen, an American history teacher of multiple class levels, chose “The Women” by Kristin Hannah as her single most favored book recommendation for students. With experience in teaching AP U.S. History, Honors American Studies, and American Studies, she finds historical fiction powerful in reviving the events of the past.

 Set during the Vietnam War, the novel follows a young nurse named Frankie and focuses on the roles of the many women who served in medical units. Mrs. Cohen values the way the novel highlights the strength and courage of female nurses who worked in dangerous conditions while caring for wounded soldiers.

The book explores the emotional effects of war, including the struggles many faced with PTSD and long-term trauma. She notes that the story does not shy away from showing how nurses and veterans were treated when they returned home, as many were met with scrutiny rather than support.

For Mrs. Cohen, the most meaningful part of the novel is how it connects readers to the human side of history. She believes it shows that the past is not only made of battles and major events, but also real people who lived and suffered through them.